History of Rajputs: Encyclopedia II - History of Rajputs - Rajput Origins

History of Rajputs - Rajput Origins

Rajput is a kshatriya caste in India.The Rajputs are comprised of many different clans. They were known for their valor and chivalry in battle. For centuries, they were India's line of defense against invaders. They proved their chivalry by fighting with honor and the mercy that they showed to the vanquished. When fighting against the hordes of Arabs, Moghuls, Afghans, and Turks, many preferred to die rather than to forsake their ancestors' faith (Hindu dharma) for Islam. While the nations of the Middle East fell in a matter of a few years to the rapid advance of Islam's new followers, the Rajput men and women refused to let them capture India for over 700 years. The heroism and sacrifice displayed by these tribes is undisputed in the chronicles of Indian history.

The concept of the Raja-putra, or "son of a king," is mentioned in Vedic literature. Rajput, a shortened version of Raja-putra, is a name that has come to be associated with specific clans that would gain political importance in a given region. Because of the fluid social structure in early medieval India, a tribe could gain or lose its status based on its political importance, its occupation, and its survival or extinction. Many tribes over the course of time became extinct because of war, or relocated to another location and changed their names. Traditionally, 36 "royal races," or raj-kul, were known as Rajputs.

They were allegedly migrants to India from Central Asia who mingled with the aboriginal tribes and were given Kshatriya, or warrior status by the priests, however this view is not supported by the archaeological evidense that has come to light in the past century.

During the rule of the British, Lieutenant Colonel James Tod visited Rajasthan and attempted to write a definitive list of the 36 Rajput tribes. However, everyone that he spoke to gave him varying lists of tribes. It can thus be concluded that a tribe that had furnished warriors or was politically dominant in a particular region can justly call itself a Rajput tribe.

Of all the Rajput tribes, there are some that deserve special mention.

History of Rajputs - Suryavanshi

Suryavanshi people were those, according to the Historian C.V.Vaidya, who adopted system of counting the Varna and period based on solar movements. They followed Solar Calendars. Myth is that they are said to have descended from Shri Ram Chander.

History of Rajputs - Chandravanshi

Chandravanshi people were those, according to the Historian C.V.Vaidya, who adopted system of counting the Varna and period based on Lunar movements. They followed Lunar Calendars. These are the Rajputs who are descendants of Lord Krishna's tribe Yadu. The most famous Chandravanshi tribes are the Bhatti tribe and the Chadhar tribe.

History of Rajputs - Agnivanshi

There are also several Agnivanshi tribes considered to be born of fire. Although different sources vary, the generally acknowledged Agni-kul are the Chauhans, Parmaras, Chalukyas, and the Parihars. The name Chahamana was actually the original name of the Chauhans.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Rajput Origins", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki